My cousin Wayne Konitzer died a few years ago from a very nasty melanoma. Wayne was enough younger than I am that I didnt know him very well, but my mom and dad knew him and loved him, and thats enough evidence for me that he was a good guy, and a good neighbor. After I finished my column about neighbors last week, I went back into my archives because I remembered that I had written about Waynes neighbors and the way some of his friends and neighbors came out to help him.
During his struggle with the disease and the violent chemotherapy he was struggling with, Waynes daughter Jodi had been posting almost daily updates about his battleon a website called Caring Bridge. Then one day, another posting, written by another daughter, Lori, described how a bunch of Wayne and Tooties friends had stepped in to help them get some firewood ready for the winter because Wayne was so debilitated that he couldnt possibly do the work himself. I think this story is worth repeating.
So, heres part of the narration Lori posted: WOW ... what an operation to watch! I got to Mom and Dads a little after 8 a.m. Ronnie and Margaret were already there splitting wood. About 8:45, an army of trucks pulled in with about 14 more guys with six (or more) chainsaws, four log splitters and a Bobcat to help Dad get his wood taken care of before the snow decided to fly; it was like an army invasion.
It was amazing to watch. They got out of their trucks, said hi and immediately started the task without much discussion about who was going to do what or where, they just went. There were three crews, each crew with a couple chainsaws cutting up the logs and three or four people splitting wood and loading up the trailers. The Bobcat was bringing logs to each crew. There were two 4-wheelers with trailers running from the splitters to the eight wood racks. The crew finished cutting and splitting 11 1/2 cords of logs in about 2 1/2 hours! It is extremely reassuring to know Mom and Dad have such awesome friends that keep an eye on them and would do anything to help them out.
I loved that story. Reading it not only brought a lump to my throat, it also made me flash back to my childhood on Konitzer Road when we had neighbors like that. I remembered a time when my mom was very ill and had to have some serious surgeries in a Green Bay hospital. Dad was making daily trips to be with her, and some major harvesting was getting behind schedule. One day, a company of our neighbors (led by Waynes dad, my Uncle George) rolled in with a lot of equipment, and in one day they were able to get the work done. It would have taken Dad a week or more to do it alone. Uncle George Konitzer, his brother Big John, Greg Konitzer, Jack Lutz, Bob Renel, Joe Konitzer, Willard Knaus everybody was there.
My dads credo, the law he lived by, was the golden rule. Dad was firmly convinced that good deeds would always be rewarded. My guess is that my cousin Wayne had lived by that credo, too, and he was certainly rewarded.
Curtain!
Read the original here:
Good neighbors and the Golden Rule - WiscNews
- Step 11: The Golden Rule of Investing - Index Fund Advisors - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- One golden rule that has still held up: Every champion but one for the last 44 years has been a top- - Hoops Hype - June 3rd, 2024 [June 3rd, 2024]
- The Golden Rules of Solo Travel | Cond Nast Traveler - Cond Nast Traveler - June 3rd, 2024 [June 3rd, 2024]
- Cultural humility: Learning how to practice this version of the Golden Rule - Steamboat Pilot & Today - June 3rd, 2024 [June 3rd, 2024]
- Princess Diana's 'golden rule' that Kate is teaching George, Charlotte and Louis - The Mirror - June 3rd, 2024 [June 3rd, 2024]
- Dave Grohl reveals his one golden rule to live by - Far Out Magazine - June 3rd, 2024 [June 3rd, 2024]
- Strangling The Golden Goose - The Holding The Ball Rule - The Mongrel Punt - June 3rd, 2024 [June 3rd, 2024]
- Golden Rule of selling a home: Leave it like youd want to find it, and heres how - Miami Herald - May 25th, 2024 [May 25th, 2024]
- Oral Roberts Golden Eagles run-rule Northern Colorado, to advance to Summit League title game on Saturday - Oklahoma City Sentinel - May 25th, 2024 [May 25th, 2024]
- Its kind of a bait-and-switch: Man shares golden rule to avoid getting scammed when purchasing meat - The Daily Dot - May 25th, 2024 [May 25th, 2024]
- The golden rules of solo travel - Cond Nast Traveller - May 25th, 2024 [May 25th, 2024]
- My Golden Rule, Live Mas! 105.7 The Point - 105.7 The Point - May 25th, 2024 [May 25th, 2024]
- Ready to Hit the Water for a Summer of Fun? Life Time Offers its Golden Rule for Swim Safety - 25:10 - InvestorsObserver - May 25th, 2024 [May 25th, 2024]
- Madame Web Broke The Golden Rule Of Superhero Movie Villains Marvel Spent 20 Years Protecting - Screen Rant - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Kate Middleton 'breaks Queen's golden rule' after conversation with young fan - Daily Record - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- This Is My New Golden Rule for Renting Vacation Homes (I Was Doing It All Wrong) - Yahoo Life - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Misguided culture warriors should heed the golden rule [column] - LNP | LancasterOnline - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Michael L. Fischler: Anger and The Golden Rule - The Union Leader - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- Dog trainer reveals her golden rule for recall training (we can't believe how simple it is!) - Yahoo Life - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- Fr. Aristides Palaynes and the Golden Rule Community - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- How Lulu still looks fabulous at 75, from her skincare 'golden rule' to refusing to take lifts - as star revea - Daily Mail - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- Ken Henry: We are breaking the 'golden rule' of economic policy - ABC News - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- The Golden Rule and the Free Market - Foundation for Economic Education - March 6th, 2024 [March 6th, 2024]
- Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett share their golden rule for successful parenting - The Times of India - March 6th, 2024 [March 6th, 2024]
- Live music at The Golden Rule Coffee House on Friday, March 8 - Redwood Falls Gazette - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have always followed one relationship rule - Marie Claire UK - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- The Golden Rule - A Way of Life - County 10 News - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Dear Annie: Nurses Golden Rule might be the answer to relationship problems - MLive.com - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Aitana's golden rule and the pending account she has with her most loyal audience - WECB - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Guest columnist David Hernndez: Climate, refugees, and the golden rule - GazetteNET - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- A golden rule that should have been followed in North - The Sun Chronicle - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- The Golden Rule Refined | | news-journal.com - Longview News-Journal - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Film About The Golden Rule Released in Bali - EIN News - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Heres a Golden Rule Jeff Bezos Seems to Have Forgotten: Never Let Your Ego Get in the Way of Doing Business - The Good Men Project - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Universalists to consider the mandate of the Golden Rule - Ashland Daily Press - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- 6-Year-Old Boy Dies a Month After Adult Neighbor Allegedly Beats ... - PEOPLE - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- COLUMN: Celebrate Thanksgiving year-round with 'Thanks-living ... - Andalusia Star-News - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Silence is craven, not golden - The Gazette - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Sellars CEO Named to Wisconsin 'Titan 100' - Industrial Distribution - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- The most valuable decluttering lessons I have learned | - Homes & Gardens - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- COMMENTARY| Bethel: Too much hate | Opinion ... - Bennington Banner - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Cooking with Love Nello's Continues Impress Diners - St. Albert Gazette - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- What Happened to James Garner? Inside the 'Maverick' Star's ... - Yahoo Entertainment - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Successful trial of coating that converts UV into PAR boosts sales - hortidaily.com - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Debt rules will affect the most vulnerable, EU trade union chief warns - EURACTIV - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Guest Opinion | Bill Paparian: Pasadena City Hall Believes in the ... - Pasadena Now - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Golden ratio in venation patterns of dragonfly wings | Scientific Reports - Nature.com - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- The Golden Rule Of Data Gathering And New Expectations Of Value ... - The Drum - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Glass gets away with breaking the golden rule - The Irish News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Red Horse Recruiter Ranks First in Class - 125fw.ang.af.mil - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- These 19 Birmingham BBQ joints are the ultimate Memorial Day ... - Bham Now - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Mountain West Technologies wins Casper Area Chamber of ... - Cap City News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- The Unseen Engine of South Florida's Booming Vacation Rental Market: Estaga - Yahoo Finance - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Simon Cowell to break important BGT rule this weekend, ITV confirms - South Wales Argus - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Starting out on the St. Croix: What High School Skiing Taught Jessie ... - fasterskier.com - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- These are the weirdest and least understood pickleball rules and ... - msnNOW - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Media Source Not Showing in OBS? Here's How to Fix It - MUO - MakeUseOf - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Youngkin avoids talk of diversity, politics at VMI graduation - Cardinal News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Mother's Day roots: the opposition to war | READER COMMENTARY - Baltimore Sun - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Rep. Gallagher says US needs to take off 'golden blindfolds' and 'open our eyes' to China risk - Fox News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Open Heaven 18 May 2023: The Gift of Love - ELANHUB MEDIA - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- 10 Best Quotes About Family In The Fast & Furious Franchise - CBR - Comic Book Resources - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Life in the Fast Lane - New DOE Rule Changes Push LNG Projects ... - RBN Energy - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Dont Say That Word- Days After Golden Advice From Wrexhams Ryan Reynolds, NFL Icon JJ Watt Reminds Wife of Unspoken Rule After Burnley Investment -... - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- 14 Handy Tricks To Get Better Sleep While Backpacking - The Trek - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Investors overlooking the golden rule as they flock to DIY apps - Stuff - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- 7 money 'rules' you can actually break, according to financial experts - MarketWatch - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Dorsman: MP Motorsport betting on caution ahead of inevitable ... - Formula 2 - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Boomer explains why millennials are having a hard time at work: 'It's ... - Upworthy - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- AFA.net - Basic Fairness in Women's Sports - American Family Association - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- How To Prep Air Fryer Vegetables So They Don't Escape The Basket - Tasting Table - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Pansexual Flag: Here's what the Pride Flag's colors mean and more - USA TODAY - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- What is the "Rules-Based-Order"? - CounterPunch.org - CounterPunch - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Hudson WWII vet turns 100, decides to quit the bocce ball team - Suncoast News - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Kansas City reportedly let Meta developer break diversity rules, then ... - KCUR - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- From the Right: Drawing the line between trans rights and parental ... - The Malibu Times - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- I was 40,000 in debt but got myself out of it here is the rule I swear by and how it changed my life... - The Sun - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- OBITUARY - Mary Anderson - Berthoud Weekly SurveyorBerthoud ... - BerthoudSurveyor.com - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- 8 ways to improve your written communications - Smartbrief - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Draymond Green: Draymond wont be moved by the Draymond rule - Eurohoops - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]